Creeper for automobile mechanics



Nov. 15, 1927.

C. M. MOHLER CREEPER FOR AUTOMOBILE MECHANICS Filed K t. 14, 1925 grvuento c w W SHNQ W m 5 41 w m m Q 2 v Q NU 0 m 0 /\M\ w O N\mv NU o 3 WVQ a u m 0 Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

urinates M. MOHLER, or .Yrsirnnrr, Mrcnrean.

CREEITEB FOH AUTOMOBILE MECHANICS.

Application filedflctober 14, 1925. Serial No. 62A29.

This invention relates to creepers for automobile mechanics. In this connection the term creeperis employed to-designate a device upon which a mechanic lies when executing, repairs or other work from beneath an automobile, and it is essentially a low wheeled platformconsisting of a bed or body ofboards or wooden slats usually jointed in ord'erto-afl'ord a strong firm surto-theend irons face. Some of the beds are of metal; In the design and construction of the creepers heretoforeymade with-whichthis applicant is acquainted, the beds are built on 'cleats or a sub-structure of frameworkmaking the I; total distance from the floor to the top surface of the bed; two and one-half to four inches. .Almost always standard hardware trade casters are'used. The standard casters are commonly one wheel mounted within a yoke like the front wheel of a bicycle. These are found to clog quickly and to start the wheels to dragging or clogging on the floor. This makes the creeper unsatisfactory because of its immobility, and the wheels wear out soon in service. Many of the standard types of two wheel casters are also mounted within a twin yoke and have the same char-' acteristics and objections as the single wheel type.

It is the object of this invention to produce a creeper the bed or body of which is held upon end irons of special construction and arrangement, provided with casters which may be removed and replaced by the removal of a cotter pin only, whereby it is believed a creeper is made unusually strong, and capabio of being moved easily in any direction by a mechanic on his back beneath a machine by pushing with hand or foot on the floor, and which cannot readily be broken or rendered unscrviceable in ordinary use.

The preferred construction of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and wherein Fig. 1 represents a top plan view of all parts assembled, and Fig. 2 is an end view, on a somewhat larger scale of drawing, and partly in section to show the construction of the extremity of the end iron and the arrangement of the caster adjacent thereto.

Throughout the description and drawings the same numerals are used to refer to the same parts.

Considering the drawings, the bed or body of this invention may be composed of the wooden boards 1. and. 2 held position to-- gether by the dowel pinssuch as the pin 3, The ends of the boards are suppontedeand secured by means of. end irons referred to generally by thenumeral 4. The endirons are in practice made of stitl metalplate by stamping. The form of. the plate. isbhown middle portion 5 and relatively-wide end portionsfi. The boards land 2 are secured by any suitable number of bolts 7. 'In order toreduceweight, each end iron may have an oblong portion" cut; away, such a cut-away portion leavingianxopening g8 in the middle of the end iron. It will be understood that this inventionis not confined to any thickness orzlengthyor materialswof the bed or body or with. respect: to; the; end ironsw 'The..term end .irons islxused merely for the purposes of this description and some other name may be selected to identify them in advertising literature or the like.

At the wide end portions 6, each end iron is provided with raised hollow or cupped portions 9 and 10, which are substantially covers or housings for the casters. Each of such hollow raised portions may have an opening 11 through which the caster can be reached for oiling or for other purposes mentioned below. Each raised portion has secured centrally thereto by peening, welding or riveting, a vertical pivot pin 12. The head of the pin 12 may be attached to the cup 10 in any common way by which a firm, strong connection is attained holding those parts permanently together. The upper por- .tion of the pin 12 is removably held by the in Fig. Land comprisesarelatively narrow v cotter pin 13 passed through the projecting ends of the yoke 14 as shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of the pin 12 is conical in form as usually made, and its lower end engages a seat 12 formed in the lower portion of the yoke 14 between the wheels 15. It willbe now understood that by the removal of the cotter pin 13, the yoke 14 carrying the wheels 15 may be removed. It is necessary only to remove the cotter pin, and if need be that may be done by a suitable tool introduced through the opening 11. The cotter pin 13 serves to retain the upper part of the pivot pin 12 in the yoke 14:. The cotter pin sustains no weight, as the head of pin 12 is welded in and practically forms an integral part of the cup 10. It will be now understood that the construction of the hollow raised covers 9 and 10 permit the use of a caster of good size, and yet as set cause the assembling bed to be supported at too great a distance above the floor. It is desirable to keep the location of the bed or body as low as may be while retaining perfect freedom of movement of the whole creeper.

An important feature of the end irons constructed in accordance with this invention is the flange 16, formed by turning down the plate of eachiron onthe outer side. In

the parts, the outer end corners of the boards 1 and 2 are circularly recessed to admit the raised portions 9 and 10 as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The operation of this invention is believed to be obvious from, the drawings and the foregoing explanation. A mechanic may lie upon the bed or body, turn in an to any po1nt beneath a nachine requiring attention.

What I clairnisai 1. The combinationin a creeper of the character described, of a bed provided with end irons having cupped portions, each cupped portion having a pivot pin therein with its upper end rigidly attached to the p and as the casters direction he may IDOVB lUITDSQ/lf passing through the said yoke, a cotter the p n removably caster having a seat engaging the lower end said cup, a caster con'iprising spaced wheels her having a pivot p111 therein with its upper end rigidly attached to the said member, a

caster having an upward extensionprovided at the top with ayoke, the said pivot pin 1 engaging the yoke and arranged to retain in the yoke, and the said of the pivot pin whereby the caster may turn vwith respect to the pin.

Intestimony whereof I afiii: my signature.

CHARLES M.1\iOHLE1t, 

